Shloka 36

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

अघोरेणाथ मनुना विपिनस्थविधिः स्मृतः । यतिस्तु प्रणवेनैव त्रिपुंड्रादीनि कारयेत्

Transliteration

aghoreṇātha manunā vipinasthavidhiḥ smṛtaḥ | yatistu praṇavenaiva tripuṃḍrādīni kārayet

Translation

అనంతరం అఘోర మంత్రంతో అరణ్యవాసి విధి నిర్వహించబడుతుందని స్మృతి చెబుతుంది. కానీ యతి మాత్రం ప్రణవం ‘ఓం’ తోనే త్రిపుండ్రాది పవిత్ర చిహ్నాలను ధరించాలి।

Word by Word

• अघोरेण: by (the mantra) Aghora
• अघोरेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अघोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; मन्त्रनाम (name of mantra)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), आरम्भ/अनन्तर (then/now)

• मनुना: by the mantra
• मनुना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र/मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘मन्त्रेण’ अर्थे

• विपिनस्थविधिः: the rule for (one) staying in the forest
• विपिनस्थविधिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपिनस्थ + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष ‘विपिने स्थः’ + विधिः (procedure for one dwelling in the forest)

• स्मृतः: is stated/remembered
• स्मृतः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘is remembered/declared’

• यतिः: an ascetic
• यतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), विरोध/विशेष (but/indeed)

• प्रणवेन: with the praṇava (Om)
• प्रणवेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘ॐ’ (praṇava)

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), अवधारण (only/indeed)

• त्रिपुण्ड्रादीनि: tripuṇḍra marks and the like
• त्रिपुण्ड्रादीनि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिपुण्ड्र + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘त्रिपुण्ड्रं आदिः येषाम्’ इत्यर्थे (ādi-suffix: ‘tripuṇḍra etc.’)

• कारयेत्: should make/should have made
• कारयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ् (Optative/vidhi-liṅ), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative) ‘should cause to be made/do’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Aghoramūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: In the Viśveśvarasaṃhitā setting, Kāśī/Viśveśvara is upheld as the paradigmatic Śaiva kṣetra where Śiva’s ordinances (bhasma, tripuṇḍra, praṇava) are taught as direct means of purification and eligibility for grace.

Significance: Eligibility for Śiva’s anugraha through Śaiva marks (tripuṇḍra/bhasma) and praṇava-oriented discipline; purification and strengthening of Śiva-bhāva.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: अघोरेण… / प्रणवेन (ॐ)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It distinguishes levels of discipline: household/forest modes may employ specific mantras like Aghora, while the renunciate’s practice is simplified to Praṇava-centered worship, emphasizing inner surrender to Shiva (Pati) over elaborate externals.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Tripuṇḍra (bhasma marks) is a Shaiva sign of devotion to Shiva and remembrance of impermanence; for the yati, the Praṇava alone becomes the primary mantra, aligning worship toward concentrated contemplation of Shiva as both Saguna (worshipped) and the transcendent reality indicated by Oṁ.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Apply Tripuṇḍra (and related sacred marks) with mantra-recitation: forest-dwellers with the Aghora mantra, and renunciates with Oṁ (Praṇava) alone—turning the act into a meditative remembrance of Shiva and dispassion.